US aquaculture leaps 26% in five years

The 2023 Census of Aquaculture, released this week by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) show that total sales of aquaculture products in 2023 were $1.9 billion (£1.5bn), an increase of 26% from 2018 when the previous census took place.

The latest census shows there were 3,453 aquaculture farms with sales in the United States, up 18% from 2018. Five states – Mississippi, Washington, Louisiana, Florida and Alabama – accounted for 55% of aquaculture sales and 49% of aquaculture farms in 2023. Food fish and molluscs were the largest product categories for sales, with catfish and oysters the top species.

Joseph L. Parsons, Administrator of the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, said: “The 2023 Census of Aquaculture, conducted every five years, expands on the data collected during the 2022 Census of Agriculture providing up to date detailed information about the production and marketing practices in the aquaculture industry.

“These valuable data tell the story of US aquaculture. The information in this report helps trade associations, governments, agribusinesses, and others learn about aquaculture and make informed decisions that have a direct impact on the future of the industry.”

The 2023 Census of Aquaculture provides detailed information about production and methods, surface water acres and sources, sales, point of first sale outlets, and aquaculture distributed for restoration, conservation, enhancement, or recreational purposes. Data highlights include:

• The average sales per farm was $552,569 (£435,467).
• Sales of food fish was $819.6 million (£645.9m), an increase of 14% from 2018.
• The sales of molluscs was $575.5 million (£453.5m), an increase of 30% from 2018.
• Crustacean sales in 2023 was $175.7 million (£138.5m), up 75% from 2018.
• Catfish sales, valued at $480.0 million (£378.3m), accounted for 59% of all food fish sales in 2023.
• Oyster sales, valued at $327.0 million (£257.7m), accounted for 57% of mollusc sales in 2023.
• Mississippi led the nation in total aquaculture sales in 2023 with $277.0 million (£218.3m).

An aquaculture farm is defined as any place from which $1,000 or more of aquaculture products were produced and sold or distributed for restoration, conservation, enhancement, or recreation during the census year.

The Census of Aquaculture is a Census of Agriculture special study, or follow-on, that expands on the data collected for 2022. The last Census of Aquaculture was conducted in 2018. To access the 2023 Census of Aquaculture results and other agriculture census data, visit nass.usda.gov/AgCensus.